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Child Development
Associate in Science
Program Details
The Associate in Science in Child Development provides a bundle of classes that may be applied towards the fulfillment of an Early Childhood, Child Development, or similar major at a four-year public or private university. Students who complete the program will acquire knowledge of the subject matter and the professional skills that will enable them to work in the Early Education and Family Development fields. With a group of classes that includes standard lecture as well as directed work experience, the goal of the program is to help students develop technical skills related to teaching within the early childhood classroom or working with children and families in the community. As a result, this major can lead to careers in childcare, childhood education, training, public service, and instruction in childhood development at any educational level.
Child Development Pathways
Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2025-2026. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?
Featured Careers
Find your calling. Explore high-earning careers with entry-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, & English as a Second Language Instructors
Doctoral degree
- Job growth: Stable
- Low salary: 38,650
- High salary: 126,450
- Average salary: 72090
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Master's degree, Bachelor's degree
- Job growth: Declining
- Low salary: 36,780
- High salary: 85,230
- Average salary: 58120
Art Therapists
Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
- Job growth: Rising
- Low salary: 38,840
- High salary: 120,050
- Average salary: 65010
All Careers in Child Development (75)
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | Post-doctoral training, Doctoral degree | Stable | 117,580 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | Post-doctoral training, Doctoral degree | Stable | 117,580 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | Post-doctoral training | Stable | 117,580 |
| Neurologists | Post-doctoral training, Doctoral degree | Stable | 117,580 |
| Neurologists | Post-doctoral training | Stable | 117,580 |
| Neuropsychologists | Post-doctoral training | Stable | 117,580 |
| Pediatricians, General | Post-doctoral training, Doctoral degree | Stable | 117,580 |
| Pediatricians, General | Post-doctoral training | Stable | 117,580 |
| Psychiatrists | Post-doctoral training, Doctoral degree | Stable | 117,580 |
| Psychiatrists | Post-doctoral training | Stable | 117,580 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Rising | 105,620 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Rising | 105,620 |
| Health Education Specialists | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Rising | 105,620 |
| Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Rising | 105,620 |
| Recreation & Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Rising | 105,620 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | Doctoral degree, Master's degree | Stable | 77,280 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree, Master's degree | Stable | 77,280 |
| Recreation & Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree, Master's degree | Stable | 77,280 |
| Secondary School Teachers | Doctoral degree, Master's degree | Stable | 77,280 |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree, Master's degree | Stable | 77,280 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, & English as a Second Language Instructors | Doctoral degree | Stable | 72,090 |
| Instructional Coordinators | Doctoral degree | Stable | 72,090 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree | Stable | 72,090 |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree | Stable | 72,090 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree | Stable | 72,090 |
| Art Therapists | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Clinical & Counseling Psychologists | Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Marriage & Family Therapists | Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Marriage & Family Therapists | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Music Therapists | Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Occupational Therapists | Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Occupational Therapists | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Recreational Therapists | Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Recreational Therapists | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 65,010 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 62,340 |
| Middle School Teachers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 62,340 |
| Secondary School Teachers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 62,340 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 62,340 |
| Tutors | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 62,340 |
| Elementary School Teachers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 61,430 |
| Middle School Teachers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 61,430 |
| Preschool Teachers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 61,430 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 61,430 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 61,430 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Declining | 58,120 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Declining | 58,120 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Declining | 58,120 |
| Management Analysts | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Declining | 58,120 |
| Range Managers | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Declining | 58,120 |
| Elementary School Teachers | - n/a | Stable | 37,120 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | - n/a | Stable | 37,120 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | - n/a | Stable | 37,120 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | - n/a | Stable | 37,120 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | - n/a | Stable | 37,120 |
| Childcare Workers | High school diploma/GED, Some college | Rising | 32,050 |
| Child, Family, & School Social Workers | High school diploma/GED, Some college | Rising | 32,050 |
| Home Health Aides | High school diploma/GED, Associate's degree | Rising | 32,050 |
| Home Health Aides | High school diploma/GED, Some college | Rising | 32,050 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | High school diploma/GED, Associate's degree | Rising | 32,050 |
| Nannies | High school diploma/GED, Associate's degree | Rising | 32,050 |
| Personal Care Aides | High school diploma/GED, Associate's degree | Rising | 32,050 |
| Personal Care Aides | High school diploma/GED, Some college | Rising | 32,050 |
| Preschool Teachers | High school diploma/GED, Associate's degree | Rising | 32,050 |
| Preschool Teachers | High school diploma/GED, Some college | Rising | 32,050 |
| Elementary School Teachers | - n/a | Declining | |
| Instructional Coordinators | - n/a | Declining | |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | - n/a | Declining | |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | - n/a | Declining | |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | - n/a | Declining | |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | - n/a | Declining | |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | - n/a | Declining | |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, & Secondary School | - n/a | Declining | |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | - n/a | Declining | |
| Tutors | - n/a | Declining |
Program Pathways Mapper incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes help you work towards your educational goals.
- Apply general knowledge of development in the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains from conception through age eight, including knowledge about typical and atypical development.
- Apply knowledge and skills to develop environments that promote equity, respect, empowerment, and dignity within the learning community.
- Demonstrate and apply professional and ethical standards of behavior in the college classroom and the workplace with children, families, colleagues, and co-workers.
- Demonstrate awareness of and skills in intentional teaching and behavior management consistent with developmentally appropriate practices.
- Demonstrate principles of curriculum planning and environmental design that are consistent with current best practices and components of the California Early Learning system for Infants, Toddlers and Preschool.